SPECIAL TOPIC: NO IDOLS

Exodus 20:4-6

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

Context
1. It is obvious that the first eleven verses of Exodus 20 all relate to one's attitude toward God as revealed in one's lifestyle.
2. Not only one's worship, but one's daily life reflects one's love and devotion, or lack thereof, toward YHWH.
3. For a good discussion of the genre of "Law" see
  1. Richard E. Avenbeck, "Law," pp. 113-138 in Cracking OT Codes
  2. Douglas Stuart, "The Law(s): Covenant Stipulations for Israel" (pp. 163-180 in How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth
Word Studies of Significant Terms

FIRST
1. "Idol" or "image" (BDB 820), Exod. 20:4
2. Possible etymology is "to hew" or "to hew into shape" (from wood or stone)
3. Translation variations
  1. "graven image"
  2. "sculptured image"
  3. "idol"
SECOND
1. "Serve" (BDB 712, KB 773, Hophal IMPERFECT), Exod. 20:5
2. Possible etymology
  1. "To work" or "to serve" - It came to be used in the sense of serving God by means of offering or worship. This is seen in that the same term can be used for the working of the ground. It is used in three senses of service to man, false gods, and YHWH.
  2. The same root can mean "slave," "servant," or "subject."
3. Translation variations
  1. "serve"
  2. "worship"
  3. LXX - "serve" - In Greek there is a distinction between service to man and service to deity. This is the word for sacred service.
THIRD
1. "Jealous" or "zealous" (BDB 888), Exod. 20:5
2. Possible etymology
  1. NOUN - "to be red in the face"
    1. jealousy - Pro. 6:34
    2. zeal - Num. 25:11; 2 Kgs. 10:16
    3. rivalry - Eccl. 4:4; 9:6
    4. zeal in battle (God for His people) - Isa. 42:13; 62:15; Zech. 1:14; 8:2
    5. zeal in anger - Ezek. 35:11; Ps. 119:139; Job 5:2
  2. VERB - this form is used only of God's jealousy or zealousness - Exod. 20:5; 34:14; Deut. 4:25; 5:9; 6:15
3. Translation variations
  1. "impassioned"
  2. "zealous"
  3. "zeal"
  4. "very possessive"
  5. LXX - "jealous" or "zeal"
4. This term, like so many terms used to describe God, comes from intimate family relationships. This jealous love of God can be clearly seen in Hosea 2-3; 11.
FOURTH
1. "Iniquity" (BDB 730), Exod. 20:5
2. Possible etymologies
  1. "to bend" or "twist"
  2. "to err from the way"
  3. this is the most common term, which is translated "iniquity" in English translations; it has three possible usages
    1. iniquity
    2. guilt
    3. consequence of, or punishment for, iniquity
3. Translation variations
  1. "retributing"
  2. "punishing"
  3. "guilt"
  4. LXX - "recompensing"
FIFTH
1. Hesed - "kindness" or "goodness" (BDB 338), see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed), Exod. 20:6
2. Possible etymologies: "to be kind" or "to be good"
  1. kindness of humans toward other humans, usually because of their relationship to God (cf. 1 Sam. 20:15; 2 Sam. 16:17; Ps. 141:4; Pro. 19:22; 20:6); especially given to the lowly, needy, and helpless (cf. Pro. 20:28; Job 6:14)
  2. the kindness and mercy of God toward mankind
    1. covenant love
      (1) in redemption from enemies and troubles, Gen. 19:29; 39:21; Exod. 15:13
      (2) in preservation of life from death, Ps. 6:5; 86:17; Job 10:12
      (3) in quickening of spiritual life, Ps. 109:26; 119:41,76,88,124,149,159
      (4) in redemption from sin, Ps. 25:7; 51:3
      (5) in covenant keeping, Micah 7:20; Deut. 7:9,12
    2. often grouped with other characteristics of YHWH (truth, faithfulness, righteousness, kindness, and fidelity, cf. Genesis 24:17; Psalm 25:20; 40:22; 57:4; 61:8; 85:11; 115:1; 138:2); see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT)
  3. extent of God's kindness
    1. abundant, plentiful, Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:5; 103:8; Jon. 4:2
    2. great in extent, Exod. 34:7; Num. 14:19; Ps. 145:8
      (1) even to generations, Exod. 20:6; Deut. 5:10; 7:9
      (2) even to heavens, Ps. 57:11; 107:11
      (3) earth is full of it, Ps. 33:5; 119:64
    3. everlasting, 1 Chr. 16:34,41; 2 Chr. 5:13; 7:3,6; 20:21; Ezra 3:11; Ps. 100:5; 106:1; 118:1,2,3,4,29; 136:26
  4. mercies, deeds of kindness to Israel, Gen. 32:11; Isa. 63:7; Ps. 25:6; 89:2
3. Translation variations
  1. "kindness"
  2. "mercy"
  3. "pity"
  4. "favor"
  5. "goodness"
  6. "lovingkindness"
  7. LXX - in 135 passages has "mercy" (Exod. 20:6 is one of them)
4. Rabbinical insight - This is a special word connected to YHWH's covenant promises to Israel. A human experiences God's covenant faithfulness, kindness, and mercy. They are meant to emulate this to their covenant partners (cf. Micah 6:8; 7:18).